November 2, 2007

Raica Oliveira is a Brazilian model known for her work with numerous companies, including Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue, Chanel, Lancome, Victoria's Secret, Pepe Jeans, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, JLO, H&M, Elle, Marie Claire, TNG, Ann Taylor and XOXO. As of 2008, she has been working as a fashion reporter for Jornal Record.

Oliveira was born in Niterói, Brazil, the youngest of three children. She has two brothers: Givago (an economist) and Pablo (a lawyer). She graduated from the Sao Vicente de Paula school in Niteroi.

Before becoming a model, she practiced bodyboarding. She dreamed of becoming a model since she was ten years old. Oliveira was discovered by the same agent who discovered Gisele Bundchen, Sergio Mattos.

In 1999, Oliveira entered the Elite Model Look contest in Brazil and beat 30,000 girls for the top prize. She was sent to Nice, France, for the final international competition, where she placed second. Soon thereafter, she moved to New York with her mother Conceição de Oliveira to try to build her career.

Oliveira was christened "The Sensation" at the 1999 fall fashion shows in Paris and Milan. She was one of the most talked about models of the season alongside Adriana Lima, Maggie Rizer, Oluchi and Karen Elson. Her first campaign was for Christian Dior, shot by photographer Nick Knight; it appeared in the likes of Vogue and Vanity Fair. In 2001, Oliveira was ranked by the magazine Istoe Gente to be on of the best paid Brazilian models, earning US$300,000 for her work, which included walking in more than 76 fashion shows in only two seasons.

The 2002 calendar celebrating the Vespa, shot by Peter Beard, featured Oliveira, along with Nourchene Scherif and Mia Rosing. Oliveira also posed half-nude for the Pirelli Calendar in 2005.

In addition to her campaigns and ads for Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, and La Perla, Oliveira was unveiled as a spokesmodel for the cosmetics company Lancome in 2006 and fashion laicence Punto Blanco. She then replaced top model Naomi Campbell at the Selmark Underwear Collection 2006 fashion show. She has also modeled swimwear for Victoria's Secret.

Oliveira has joined the ranks of models charging over €20,000 for a fashion show to step out for TNG fashion show in Rio. In February 2007 she appeared in Sports Illustrated. In March 2007 Oliveira joined IMG Paris and she also appeared in Ann Taylor advertisements. In September 2007, she appeared in Bandolino ads which was featured in Vogue and InStyle. She is the new face of Avon. Oliveira is also a representative for David Morris London jewelry.

She is featured in the Sports Illustrated 2007 Calendar and appeared at the Sports Illustrated 2007 Sportsman Of The Year Awards on December 4th, 2007.

In February 2008, she appeared in a GQ editorial for United Kingdom. Oliveira landed a contract with the fashion brand XOXO for the year 2008. The new XOXO campaign features both Oliveira's face and name in their brand, revealing Raica as one of their spokesmodels. She is currently with IMG Models Paris, Way Models Brazil, Why Not Models Milan, Elite Models, Munchen Models, and more; her mother agency remains Elite.

São Paulo Fashion Week released a calendar featuring 25 Brazilian models including Oliveira, photographed by Bob Wolfenson with art direction by Giovanni Bianco. The calendar was accompanied by a movie containing interviews with the models, which was broadcasted at GNT in Brazil and then hit the shelves as a DVD.

In April 2008, Oliveira was featured in a campaign for fashion brand H&M in the Caribbean and in the United States.

Oliveira opposes posing nude: "I could not pose nude. Nothing against those who do, but I never felt right about it. It's not something that would make me proud."

She graced the May 2008 cover of Spain's YO DONA magazine. Oliveira appeared at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. In Cannes, she was photographed for the French Vogue.

She took part in the Sao Paulo Fashion Week with Michelle Alves, Isabeli Fontana and Caroline Ribeiro on the Rosa Chá male fashion show spring/summer 2008/2009 in June.

Oliveira, Daniela Cicarelli and Deborah Secco are the faces of the Brazilian footwear brand Via Marte for the Spring/Summer collection 2008/2009.

Since 2008, Oliveira has been working as a reporter in Paris and New York for the portuguese Jornal Record. Oliveira will be reporting on fashion occasions occurring in Paris and New York for the program Hoje em Dia which is hosted by fellow model Ana Hickmann.

She is also going to be the presenter of Fórum Desenvolvimento Sustentável 2008.